> does anyone know where I can buy a pressure cooker? I think that I might > run into a use for one this summer. Also, I have no idea how much these > things cost...could anyone quote me a price? Another unrelated question > -- how much does a spore print cost? Is it safe to > order them from High Times? I'm not too interested in getting on a > mailing list (of course I *did* post this message...) This is a question that a month or two ago, I also would have really wanted to know the answer to. But, I've since found what is probably the correct answer, so I'll post what I've found: The best, safest (and since it's in Florida, probably the most legal) place to get spores from is the Florida Mycology Research Center. They offer a lot of other shit too, but they are best for prints. The unfortunate thing is that you have to either a) give them a big membership fee, or b) request for your psychoactive shroom spores on _university paper_. Actually, looking at my info, I see that they have a compuserve address of 72253,1553. To order by phone or through snail-mail, ask for their "main" and "red" catalogs: Florida Mycology Research Center PO Box 8104 Pensacola, FL 32505 (904) 327-4378 They ask for a total of $20.00 for these two catalogs, but if you sound official and polite enough, you'll get away with sending nothing (or less). I only say this because their photocopied catalogs are just not worth $20.00. Expect to pay about $10.00 for "common large" (Mexican psilocybe cubensis), $15.00 for "liberty caps" (psilocybe semilanceata), $20.00 for "dung-loving" (psilocybe coprophila), or $35.00 for Psilocybe baeocystis, which I have written in the margin as "potent" (?). FMRC is a very professional company, and will not put you on any kind of mailing list. Be aware that if you live in the California area, you may have legal problems having spores sent to you. I believe it's illegal. I hope someone corrects me on this if I'm wrong. As for a pressure cooker, and other _great_ supplies, send about $5.00 for the Fungi Perfecti catalogs. The catalogs are _really_ well done, and have some very professional equipment inside them: Fungi Perfecti PO Box 7634 Olympia, Washington 98507 (206) 426-9292 They sell a seemingly excellent kit (with a 21.5 qt. pressure cooker) for $289.00. From my personal browsing, this is arguably the best available. Alone, the pressure cooker costs $130.00, but I doubt anyone could get away with only buying this; ther's just too much good stuff in there 8). To almost completely round out your kit, you might want to look into FMRC's ion generator thing. It seems to solve a considerable part of the sterilization problem. But I don't doubt that this could be made or even bought from somewhere else for much cheaper than they ask. I believe they want something like $150.00 for it. Don't try to do this without a book on cultivating shrooms. _The Mushroom Cultivator_ by Stamets is probably a really good one, and is available through Fungi Perfecti ($30.00). Assuming you have a good shroom book, your total expenses will only be another $20.00 or so, I believe, after this - just odds and ends like spray, rice, and gloves. Hope I helped someone out there. This isn't at all cheap (my list totals up to $489.00), and you probably _will_ find used equipment that is much cheaper and possibly the same. But if you're anything like myself, you'll want a fresh start, and optimum conditions. -- : The best, safest (and since it's in Florida, probably the most legal) : place to get spores from is the Florida Mycology Research Center. They : offer a lot of other shit too, but they are best for prints. The : unfortunate thing is that you have to either a) give them a big : membership fee, or b) request for your psychoactive shroom spores on : _university paper_. Actually, looking at my info, I see that they have : a compuserve address of 72253,1553. To order by phone or through : snail-mail, ask for their "main" and "red" catalogs: Actually, to order a spore print from FMRC you DO NOT have to give a membership fee NOR do you need a university letter head. These criteria apply to having special privedges and ordering live cultures, respectively. Stephen Peele is the gentleman who maintains the center and is a very nice man. They also put out a newsletter which talks about all sorts of mushroom facts, cultivation, uses, and includes psychoactive mushroom topics. The spore prints are in sealed plastic envelopes imprinted on about a 1 square cm piece of white paper. : Florida Mycology Research Center : PO Box 8104 : Pensacola, FL 32505 : (904) 327-4378 : worth $20.00. Expect to pay about $10.00 for "common large" (Mexican : psilocybe cubensis), $15.00 for "liberty caps" (psilocybe semilanceata), : $20.00 for "dung-loving" (psilocybe coprophila), or $35.00 for Psilocybe : baeocystis, which I have written in the margin as "potent" (?). FMRC is : a very professional company, and will not put you on any kind of mailing : list. For those who don't want to go through the hassle of getting the "red" catalog (this one has the psychoactive and toxic mushrooms), if you want to order any spores from FMRC I can give you the catalog number. This is all you need to order from them. There are MANY species of psilocybe mushrooms, be sure to specify which. I don't think giving out this mushroom is violating any copywrite laws. If it is someone please tell me. Also, psilocybe spores are for MICROSCOPY and identification purposes. Be aware that if you live in the California area, you may have : legal problems having spores sent to you. I believe it's illegal. I : hope someone corrects me on this if I'm wrong. This is correct. The spores of psilocybin producing mushrooms are illegal to possess in California. [other stuff deleted] GEorge